writing for 8bit MCUs looks an awful lot like writing for 32bit MCUs. Or 16bit MCUs.

True, from a skill point of view.

When it comes to making a living off your 8-bit skills and your 32-bit skills, it is night and day: send out two resumes of yours, one emphasizing your 8-bit skills and another your 32-bit skills. You will get far more looks for the 32-bit version, far quicker and at a substantially higher starting point than the 8-bit version, if the 8-bit version gets looked at at all.

The reason is simple: the 8-bit design jobs, like the hardware, have largely moved off shore.